Locking device



May 19, 1936 s. R; HEMPHILL LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY om f ri t haw ATTORNEY May 19, 1936. s. R. HEMPHILL 2,041,055

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1" i 80 I 25/ 5 F INVENTOR- f STflHLEY ZHEMPH/LL ATTORNEY v V I a "P atentedfMay19, 1936 v V v I j j .2, 041,065 LOCKING DEVICE Stanley R. Hemphill, Seattle, Wash. Application September 14, 1934, Serial No'. 744,027

a I p a 9 Claims. (Chub-265) f i ;This inventionrelatesto' locking devices and brake and, in the event that'he'has stopped on more particularly, to locking devices adapted to a inc eand 1188 set t e em y r e, t be used in connection with brakeasuch as those q re more an rdinary skill in s ns u now generally used on motor-driven vehicles int? w -lflp k 79111016 11111 cludlng trucks, busses, automobiles, trailers, aira tio 11 th m rs y level" in obiw- 6 craft, railway rolling stock, and the like. Howtionfl-blefeature, from the operating standpoint I ever,-it'is not intended that the present invention bu a s objectionable a n me space in i be limited to use 'in motor'vehicles since it may" thevehicle a QOuld Otherwise be P t to 8 0d be readily adapted, without departing from the" This v r its most common. locatlonds 1o spirit of the invention, to many other mecha a hindrance to-the'comfort of thedriver r extra 10 'nisms' wherein it-is desirable" that certain parts passengerw o might desire to occupy the S be temporarily locked against movement. adjacent the-driver; I v V .It is the principal objector the present inven-'- The Principal disadvantage je t onab e -tion'to, provide relatively inexpensive means, of a feature to-hydlalflic a d pneumati bra es re- 5 .sim'plifled and easily operable charalcter; wheresides fact thatthe fluid pressuieimedlum l5 by the-brakes or an automobile, truck, car, oremployedvwill frequently-leak pastime piston or T other propelledvehicle, may be eiiectively locked (diaphragm with which the b 8 q pm t is in applied position'.. Furthermore, a device which connected, will become ed, o any may be set for automatically releasingthe brakes one 01 Various. other reasons. Whi e he brakes go from locked condition incident to a momentary [are fi r therebyrl'endelf the brakes @manual or mechanical application 01' an ineflecflve- This is iespeiiially true in t event 1 creased braking pressure. oi a supply conduitxbreaking, or oi continued Explanatory to the present invention it will application 111! grades underheavyblaklnl here be stated'that substantiallyall present day Pressure- '25 .motor vehicles, such as: trucks, busses, automo- In View the abovevmenflonedeflnd other (115' bil d trailers, are equipped with brkeszmat advantagesinherent in brakes'and braking sysv a are manually app1ied,'controlled and released. 'tems' as now generally empmyed/it hasbeenv usomewbr'akes employ a hydraulic pressure the principal object of this invention to provide dium; Others are pneumatically actuated and means whereby th k whenwplid'in'the 1, so still othersare electrically applied. The most manner may be and held 1 common equipment of automobiles trucks in set position and which, in the common-autopmvides fo r etti g the brakes by manual appn mobile, or truck type of vehicles, eliminates the, cation of pressure against a iootpedal, identified hand Pemtedememny brake lever and the service brake bed yAssQcidted w the ploys only the service brakepedal bothiorsetfoot pedal is a handlev'er used-asan emergency ting the brakes and 9 releasing themp v braking means and which, equipped with V More specifically stated, the present invention vices tor-locking 'it inset position, and which resides in the Provision of a locking d vi as devices must be manually released in order to above Stated, Q d a ratchet bill li lvely permit of the unsettingo! the brakes. V connected for movement with the braking mech- 40 Inthe use of the common types of air brakes anism, a pawl adapted to'be-set in position either 40 and hydraulic brakes, braking is eflected by a beforeor duringra braking operation, to engage controlled applicatlon of the fluid braking methe ratchet bar to retain any" amount of brak "dium employed to a cylinder .to'movea piston, ing pressure applied to the'brakes, and a re-' or the like, therein whichhas operative conneclease devicev which may be manually, electrically 5 tion with the braking mechanism oi the'vehicle. or pneumatically set in position to eflect the unwhile the braking systems of the types above locking of the brakes automatically incident, to

a I explained are satisiactory'to a certain extent, anadded application or braking pressure to the there. are disadvantages and objectionable ieabrakes. a r 5 tures inherentin their particular construction or Other objects of theinvention reside in the 0 padaptatiom For example, inthe usual automoe details of constructionand combination oi, parts bile that is equipped with the' service brake pedal I and modeofoperation; as will hereinafter be fully and .the emergency brake lever, the operator described. "1 must necessarily'release his hold onthe steering Iny accomplishing these obiects, I'have prosagwheel with one hand to release the emergency vided the improved details oi! construction, the

along one edgeit. is. provided with ratchet teeth preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-' Fig. 4-is a detail of a means for manual control suitable for automobile use;

Fig.5 is a detail of means for as applied to arailway car in connection with an air brake system. 7 a I the pneumatically controlled means shown in Referring'more-in detail to the dr'aw-ings U First, describing thelocking device-in its most,

common form with the: understanding, however.; that it maybe altered in size and-shape as well;

as on the proportion of its partsiin accordance with requirements' of any particular installation.

Thedevice comprises a housing I .of-rectangular form with opposite side walls. {and l-gp'ro'vided, respectively, with "alined openings 4 .and'

through which a ratchet bar Bis extended. 1 This bar is slidable lengthwise in: the housing 'and 1. A-pawl .jlS. pivotally mountedwithin the housing on a pivot'stud 0" and this pawl'is-provided at its end with a plurality of teeth adapted to interlockwith the teeth. l 01' the bars 6 to hold the latter against movement-in one diinplace. p

-Qverlying the 6,- parallel therewith and v slidably supportedrat itsendsin guide bearings rection.

A cover plate II is fitted over. the housing I r and isheki in place :by one orn'i'ore bolts i2 that are extended therethrough andalso through the :base of thehousing toanchor the device firmly; j I to a support -l3 .which may be any suitable part 1 of the; vehicle such. as a-irarne member'or the transmission; housing. -The' cover plate, incishowing holds the bar 6 dentallv in the present l6 and I! that are mounted in the end walls 01' the housing, is a lock setting and releasing rod I8.. This rod is urged toward release position bya coiled spring which surrounds it and which bears. against the housing wall I and the lock, mechanically..electrically, or manual-K 1y, dependent upon-the particular. installation..

lease rod I8 is eflec'ted by energization ot asole against a collar ZIffixed on the rod. The rod' may be pulled in the opposite direction to set as will presently be described. a

In the device of Figs.1{and 3 shifting otthe renoid'fl -that is attached tot-he housing 1-. j The end of the rod l8 extends into the tubular core of? the solenoid and when the latter is energized it p'ullsthe rod outwardly against the opposing pressure of the spring 20. "The solenoidfin the 'installatiomas shown in Fig. 3,"is connected-electrically with a source of current 26: by'wires 21 I and 2B and a push button switch "is interposed vin-wire 28 forclosing the circuit. a

pneumatic con trol of'the locking device. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of locking devices as applied to a truck and trailer. 'Fig. '7 is a similar illustration of-t he invention bar II is th rod I8 is a leaf spring 82.

the rod at one end by a screw, or, rivet, 38. The

other end of'the spring is-free and is provided with a downwardly rounded head adapted to engage the pawl II in such manner that when the rod I8 is in release position, the pawl is tilted upwardly and itsteeth are disengaged from the rack bar. When thejrod II is pulled outwardly by; the solenoid; the spring I2 pushes the pawl downwardly and 'causes it to lockagainst the ratchet bar. A seat 38 is. provided in the top e edge of the pawl to receive the head "to positively lift the pawl iree of theba'r when the rod 18 is moved by spring' 20 to release" position.

In thattype of 'ihstallationshown in Fig. 3,-

which is typical for automobiles, the service.

brake pedal 40 is pivotally mountedat 4| and is connected by a link' 42 with a' lever arm 43. on a Y cro'ssshaft 44. The-brake arm is operatively 1 Fig.8 is an Eillustrationpi' a modification of the manuallycontrolled means shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9-isan illustration of a modification of connected by aj link .46 with the rocker v arm 43.

Also, a rigid linkvfl-lis pivotally,attachedgt the rocker arm, at. and atits other end is pivotal- 1y connectemat 4l,;,;with;the. end of :the ratchet fact-the .pawl I is, mirmally held:=elear oi the rack bar by spring'32..butiinthepeventithat it I is desired to set and'lock'the,brakegtheoperator,

after applying. pressurentothe service-awake pedal 40 and before it isreleased, closes the solenoid circuit by pressure'otxthezbutton l0? -.This

causes; the. pawl-setting bar ll to bepulled torwardlyand, the pawl tobeurged =byispring 32 1 against thev rack... 'I'henywhen pressure on the service brake is released.'. the brake will-biheld -.After the pawlyl-. has .thus been lockednfwith the ratchet banthe solenoid circuit is opened b'y removal of pressure i'romtheiswitch button 30,

.set by locking the pawl .withteethzof the ratchet the solenoid ls de-energ ined and thepaWlsettingv shifted backby spri g in to "re:

lease! position. but the ba '1 [p retains its locking 1 hold on the ratchet by reason, of. the; frlc-' tional engagement oi t he teeth at theratchet bar 7 and pawl.

suillcient to slightly shiftthe brake. g I .In analternativeconstruction as shown in Fig.

In om ns releaselthe brake, it is only neces sary toap'ply an addedbraking pressure to the service brake pedal ratchet 'bar'forwardly thus to fijeethe pawlwhich, by reason of pressure of the leaf spring 32 a .gainst it, will liftclear .ot tlie ratchet; thus "to 'iree the,

4,1 the pawl setting'rod. Id isfmanuall yjnioved to locking position ,by means, of; ai ss or wire 60 which extends thereto throu'gh aflexibletube 6|); The wire connects, gatfaeonvenientpoint prefer- [ably at the dash or instrumentfbdard time vehicle', with a lever 62 whereby it lnaybepulled I outwardly thus tofshiitjtherod; j 'onireleaseoi" lever 6 2, the' spring to: shif ts the rod tofrelease position.

- j In: another installation, shown Iii pig-is; the wire might with equal succes's. be attached "to the Opposite end 61' *the bar II" and pushed inwardly by suitable means to move the bar to upawl setting: position. i" i In'the'arrangement 0i "Fig; 5, therodll'com position for setting ,the pawl against the ratchet .bar. The same results as here stated are possible use of compressed air, by'applyingtheair to the chamber at theopposite end the-diaphragm irom that on which vacuum isapplied-as illustrated in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 6 is diagrammatically illustrated a typical installation of locking devices :for trucks and trailers wherein iii) and 8-! designate respectively the truck andtrailer. the truck isan electrically actuated -mastergswitch 83 ;controlled by V a sw itch button. I Closing of; the switch fli causes the closing of a circuitlthrou gh the mas- :ter switch mechanism thereby close themaster switch. For each of the various wheels-of the truck and trailer is a brake locking means like that of Fig. 1, wherein the ratchet bari preferably, is directly connected with thegbr'ake arm.

Each locking device has its cntrolling,s6lenoid connected in a circuit connection 85, lea'dingto one side, of the master-switch. Theothe'rside of each solenoid is grounded to the master switch so that when the master switch is closed, all solenoids are energized.-This use of the locking devices may be in connection with any type of brakes, either air, hydraulic or electric. Also,

they are automatically released by an application of braking pressure, as in the use of the device of Fig. 3..

In Fig. 7 is diagrammatically illustrated a typical installation in connection with air brakes as used on railway cars. 'In the illustration 90 I and 9| respectively, designate air pressure lines from the source of air; the latter pipe supplying a tank 92.

90 and 9|. An air cylinder 96is supplied by pipe 91 from valve 93, and a piston 98 in cylinder 96 is moved in accordance with the air pressure. Piston 98 is connected by suitable linkage 99 to actuate the wheel brakes, and connected with link 99 is the ratchet bar 6 of a locking device like that of Fig. whereinair pressure is admitted to a diaphragm chamber I00 through a pipe IOI connected to pipe 94; In the use of this device air in line 94 normallypholds the locking device free but in the event that pressure in line 94 is reduced, either by leakage, use or by control valve manipulation, to a certain extent, then the lock is actuated to lock and hold the brake set.

Restoration of pressure in line 94 releases the" lock automatically.

Thepresent lock is useful in many other applications not specifically mentioned, for instance, as a throttle lock for ,motor boats.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a braking system, the combination with a brake setting means of a brake lock including a ratchet bar operatively connected for movement withthe brake setting means, a pawl pivotally mounted in position to engage the ratchet bar, to prevent brake releasing movement thereof, and a spring member engaging the pawl and having a support movable to a position for causing the spring to urge the pawl against the ratchet bar, and to another position wherebyit e1 fec ts a positive co nnection 93 designates anair valve connected at opposite sides by pipes-9l and 95 with the lines it free or the ratchetbanJ ,2. In a vehicle ,having wheet brakes and brake applying lever, arm, a ;brake I lockcoinprismet sin x aasart .Ttii 'l i ratchet bar slidable therein, ,means joperatively connecting said bat withisaid lever arm whereby said bar, moves with the latter,,a p'awlpivotally mounted, in said housing to engage the ratch et,a slide bar in the housing a leafspringon the bar bearing against the pawlancl means forj shifting the slide bar to different positions wherebyf in one position, the pawl is urged by, the spring against the ratchet and in anotherjl'position itis lifted away from it;}said .pawllbeing lifted from the ratchet by said spring. to :releasejthe; brake": incident ,to relief of. holding] tension onathe ratchet bar. 7

3. In a braking systein', the arranger-with, I I including a supporting housing,"a ratchet bar movable brake setting'means of agbrjakellock slidable therein, a link connecting said bar m vmovement withsaid brake setting means and through which. bar and link s'aid'brakes; maybe held when applied, a pawl pivotally mounted on the housing to engage theirat'chet .barftohold it against release movement after the brakes have been applied, a salenoid'a corelbar slidable therefor the circuit.

4. In an automobile having'a braking system including a brake aDDlying'lever and service brake means, a brake lock including a ratchet bar operatively connected for movement with the in, and means on the ,corebarengag'ingthe pawl. to move it from and against the ratchet, acircuit for the solenoid and a control switch lever, a pawl mounted to engage the ratchet bar I to hold the lever against brake releasing movement, and a pawl setting means connected with the pawl and movable under manual control to set position for urging the pawl against the ratchet bar, resilient means for automatically returning the setting means to released" posi-' tion; said pawl being designed .to be retainedin locking contact withthe bar through pressure or the latter thereagainst, and releasable by an ada vance movement of the ratchet bar effected by an additional application of braking pressure through the service brake means, and the movement of the pawl setting means to released. position that is incident thereto. V

5. In a braking system, the combinationwith a brake setting means of a brake lock including a ratchet bar operatively connected for move ment with the brake setting means, a pawl pivbar, to prevent brake releasing movement therectally mounted in position to engage theratchet J of. a shift rod movable between set" andfoil'" r positions, a yieldable member on theshiit rod engaging the pawl in set position ot the shift rod, to urge it against the ratchetbar, and operable in the other position of the shift rod to hold it from the bar, a cable operatively connected with the shift rod for moving it manually to "set position, and a spring for actuating it back to released position.

6. In a braking system, the combination "with a brake setting means of abrake lock including? a ratchet bar operatively; connected for movement with the brake setting means, a pawl -piv otally mounted in position to engage the ratchet bar, to prevent brake releasing movement'thereof, a shift rod, and means on the shift'rod engaging the pawl atone position of the rod, for

urging the pawl against the ratchet ban and in to gbe placd' funder compression movement ;a. m g making" ysymm, lthe combihajtion with ii ra tch et b'ar pperatively connected to; move gnent with the brake setting means between seti am; r eleasedTposltipns, and through which bar a'ppl lcatlqn of brgkesflgna? be Sustained};

pivbted bmuonsni lol noldf mu "m gnum. I

Bifiitioh iwith m relation" I pneumatic'means t'ogcthit th'ephwl tntohold- 

